POINTS OF UNITY

The proposed points of unity laid forward shall comprise the most basic form of unity among One Struggle KC, they are not listed in terms of rank of importance nor the limits of our entire political vision. They are meant to unite all who can be united with the goal of dismantling the institutions of transphobia, racism, classism, sexism, ableism, homophobia and xenophobia:

“Look, I am a refugee. I am a victim of all kinds of racial oppression and tyranny and terrorism in the United States…My first concern is liberation. My first concern is justice and freedom. And it makes no difference what they call me and it makes no difference with what they think, because in the final analysis they are going to have to face reality. And the reality is that America is not god, America is not the end of the earth and it doesn’t matter what the Americans think.”– Robert F. Williams

1. We oppose the oppression of nations and support the right of self-determination of oppressed nations.

The United States of America was founded as a settler-colonial project built on the genocide of indigenous people and the theft of their lands, as well as the kidnapping and enslavement of Africans, the military conquest of ⅔ of Mexico, the colonization of Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines. The United States oppresses Third World People inside (Chicanos/Mexicanos, New Afrikan/African-American/Black, First Nations, Puerto Ricans, Hawaiians etc.) and outside its borders – these peoples have the democratic right to self-determination on the basis of equality between all nations.

“How incorrect theoretical analysis and wrong strategies can affect a movement can be clearly seen in the case of the feminist movement. Not understanding women’s oppression as linked to the wider exploitative socio-economic and political structure, to imperialism, they have sought solutions within the imperialist system itself. These solutions have at best benefited a section of middle class women but left the vast mass of oppressed and exploited women far from liberation. The struggle for women’s liberation cannot be successful in isolation from the struggle to overthrow the imperialist system itself.”-Anuradha Ghandy. Philosophical Trends in the Feminist Movement.

2. We are opposed to all forms of patriarchy and patriarchal violence and support the emancipation of women.

Women everywhere face danger of patriarchal violence(sexual, mental and emotional abuse) from partners, spouses as well as the structural violence that exists within the capitalist system itself. The displacement of oppressed nationality men from their families because of the prison system places added pressure to women. The patriarchal exploitation of women’s unpaid labor in the home and underpaid labor in the workforce is inherent to capitalist-imperialism. The oppression of oppressed nationality and working class women has a class and national character that is experienced differently from rich upper-class white women.

“Systemic violence and aggressive hate is a reality for LGBT people. Transgender people are treated as second-class citizens and their lives are systemically devalued and marginalized in economic, political, social, and cultural spheres of society.”-GABRIELA Women’s Party

3. We support the liberation of all genders and oppose the oppression of LGBTQ people by institutional and cultural bigotry, violence and other oppression.

LGBTQ people face sexual harassment from the police as well as people in our community, they are deprived of access to social services and face oppression at the workplace. We must challenge this practice by creating a queer-affirming culture everywhere. We must engage our LGBTQ comrades as full participants and vocal non-token leaders in the fight for our collective liberation.

“I don’t want to go down fighting. I want to win.”-Esperanza Quintero. Salt of the Earth (1954)

4. We oppose class exploitation and support the struggles of the working-class and working-class activists.

We realize that many of our people are not only oppressed as colonized and/or formerly enslaved peoples but through our relationship to the means of production. Working people and the unemployed take on the brunt of capitalism and we believe that this unjust system must be dismantled. This means that the demands of the US working class does not supersede the interests of oppressed nations and nationalities (internally to the United States and internationally) and the working class internationally. We support the progressive demands of the multi-national working class in the United States.

– Smedley D. Butler. War Is A Racket.

5. We oppose the role of the United States as an imperialist power both locally and internationally.

Many of us come from communities brutalized by the Police, an occupying army in communities of color in their own right. The experience of Ferguson showcases to us the role of the Empire in regards to resistance especially that of resistance by oppressed nations. Just as we oppose imperialism’s attacks on people in this nation we also oppose it abroad. US imperialism and the bureaucrat domestic capitalism has contributed to the impoverishment of the vast majority of the population while enriching the ruling classes. Just as we are resisting in the belly of the beast we also need to recognize the resistance of oppressed people around the world and express solidarity in their struggles.